The Los Angeles Lakers selected point guard Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft with the belief that his outstanding passing and court vision will benefit the rest of the team.
With a number of young promising players, having a playmaker like Ball capable of getting guys easy baskets will undoubtedly help everyone. One of those players who could benefit substantially is fourth-year power forward Julius Randle.
Though it has been a small sample size, Ball’s passing has already seemed to become infectious in Summer League. Randle spoke on the rookie in an interview with ESPN during the Lakers’ game against the Kings on Monday noting that he has never played with a playmaker like Ball:
“Not really. Not for a guy that’s coming in as a rookie at his age personally that I’ve played with, no. He’s been amazing. He makes the easy play, he makes the right play and he makes everybody better so I think everybody is going to have fun playing with him.”
It is great to see Randle praising the rookie Ball as someone who can really change things for the Lakers and make everything easier. As Randle said, Ball makes the easy play and the right play and that usually makes thing better and more fun for everyone involved.
Ball has had some struggles shooting the ball so far in Summer League, but his impact has been obvious as even when he isn’t on the floor, the Lakers are constantly looking to make the extra pass.
For his part, Randle has been hard at work this offseason, particularly with the transformation of his body as he looks to be in the best shape of his life, and ready to get up and down the floor with his new point guard.
Fans will be hoping to see more of Ball in Summer League, but he remains a question mark with a lingering groin injury.
